Recording cyclometer



May 22, 1951 .1. w. CADE RECORDING CYCLOMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 14, 1948 Inventor c/OHN W 6405 2g 2? m attorney y 2, 1951 J. w.CADE 2,554,323

' RECORDING CYCLOMETER Filed April 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventorPatented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDING CYCLOMETERHollywood, Calif.

Application April 14, 1948, Serial N 0. 21,005

Claims. 1

This invention relates to recording devices and deals more particularlywith a recording counter or cyclometer such as may be used in connectionwith watt meters, gas meters, water meters, etc. As will later beapparent, this invention has other applications of use in a variety offields.

The present invention contemplates producing a record of the reading ofa cyclometer, said record, for each such reading, consisting of marks ona card that are so positioned relatively that when said card is placedin a suitable business machine, the machine will translate said marksinto a number that is represented by the marks. By providing said markswith electrical conductivity, the machine will react and functionaccording to the pattern of arrangement of the marks to produce, forinstance, a bill for electric current, a gas bill, a water bill, etc.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide novel meansfor a record of the reading of a cyclometer or like device, that isadapted to be placed in a business machine for translation into a billor the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recording cyclometerwhich produces, on a card, mutually interrelated marks that haveelectrical conductivity for controlling a machine sensitive thereto,whereby said machine translates said marks into a number and/or thecharge for the units of a commodity represented by said number.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a cyclometer orlike device for producing on a card a pattern of marks formed ofgraphite whereby said marks have electrical conductivity of subsequentuse as above indicated.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily'installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyshow and the following description merely describes one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

Fig. l is an end view, partly broken away, of a recording cyclometerembodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, parallel to the plane of Fig. 1, andtaken through an intermediate part of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View as taken along the plane of line 33of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view as taken on the plane of line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a face View to a reduced scale, of a portion of a card bearingmarkings as produced by the present device.

The recording cyclometer that is illustrated comprises, generally, asuitable housing [0; cyclometer means H, within said housing andoperatively controlled by a meter or like device; marking means l2controlled by the means H; and manually movable platen means [3 forpressing a card C or the like into operative engagement with the means12 to mark said card with a pattern of marks according to the positionof said means [2.

The housing Ill comprises end walls l4 that are extended to mount theplaten means I3, a front wall l5 formed with four horizontal rows of tenholes 16, and a cover I! that, together with walls I4 and I5, encloses achamber 13. While four rows of holes I6 are shown, it will be evidentthat there may be only one, or two, three or more rows, as desired.

The means II is mounted within chamber l8 and comprises four transverseshafts i9, 20, 2! and 22 that are vertically aligned, carry over gearing23 that interconnect the shafts, a plurality of similar cams 24 on eachshaft, and an operating lever 25 on the shaft I9 for either continuouslyor intermittently rotating the same, or oscillating the same.

As shown, shaft 19 has afliXed thereto a ratchet wheel 26, and a dog 21is associated with the teeth of said wheel so that the same can rotatein one direction only regardless of the rotation and/or oscillation oflever 25, the latter-effecting drive of shaft IS in said one direction.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, shaft [9 is shown as being drivenin a clockwise direction. Said shaft is provided, as part of carry 3over gearing 23, with a single toothed gear element 23 that, for eachrevolution of shaft i9, engages, one tooth of a ten-toothed gear 29 onshaft 20. Thus, shaft 20 rotates intermittently in a counter-clockwisedirection and completes one revolution for each ten revolutions of shaftiii. A single toothed gear element as on shaft 20 successively engagesthe ten teeth of a gear 31 on shaft 2i to intermittently rotate thelatter shaft one full revolution in a clockwise direction for each tenrevolutions of shaft 20. A single toothed gear element 32 on shaft 2!successively engages the ten teeth of a gear 33 on shaft iii tointermittently rotate the latter shaft one full revolution in acounter-clockwise direction for each ten revolutions of shaft 21. I v UThe carry over gearing i23 above described is generally typical forobtainingsuitable ten-fold rotation of each successive shaft of thegroup comprising shafts [9 to 22.

Each of said shafts is provided with .a, group of ten cams 24 and thecams on each shaft are similar and similarly arranged. Each cam isprovided with a lobe 34 and said lobes of each roup are uniformlyangularlydisposed through 360. Thus, the angular difference betweenadjacent cam lobes is 36. The cams of each group are spaced along eachrespective shaft and held in spaced relation by spacing collars 35 asbest seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

A convenient manner, obviating keys, splines or set screws, forangularly positioning the cam lobes entails forming each shaft of stockhaving a square or rectangular cross-section and imparting a 360 twistto each shaft. However, the ten cams of each group include nine spaces.Accordingly, the end cams will be relatively displaced 32l. It is thus asimple matter to form the cams with rectangular clearance holes for theshafts and to alternate them with spacers to make up each shaft assemblywith the cam lobes progressively and uniformly angled at 36 in crements.

The means l2 comprises forty similar units 35, one projecting througheach hole [6 in wall 15. Each unit 36 comprises a tubular rectangularouter casing 3? that has a closed end, a holder 38 slidably mounted insaid casing, a pointed piece of graphite or marker 39 or the like fixedin said holder, a lug 40 on the closed end of casing 31 for engagementby a cam 24, and a spring 4! connecting said casing with a fixed rod 42for urging said lug into engagement with said cam. The holder 38 isresiliently mounted in the casing, an expansion spring 43 in the latternormal- 1y projecting said holder and the piece of graphite outwardly aslimited byv an inturned abutment 44 on the casing and a shoulder 45 onthe holder. Thus, the piece of graphite is cam-projected,spring-retracted, and yieldingly mounted.

It is evident that each unit 36 is operatively associated with one ofthe cams 24 for projection to card-marking position by the lobe 34 of acard C be pressed with a slight downward wiping movement against thegraphite pieces 39 of said projected units, said graphite pieces willform four aligned graphite marks on said card. A card thus marked, whenplaced in a suitable machine sensitive to the conductive properties ofthe marks, will result in translation to 0000.

Now, as lever '25 is actuated, shaft IE] will rotate clockwise to movethe leftmost cam lobe out of projecting engagement with the uppermostunit 36 at the left and the spring ll will retract said unit. The lobeof the next cam, which is the l cam, on the shaft 10 will project itsunit 35. Since the three other shafts will be unaffected, a translationof the marks obtained with this setting of the units will be 0001.

When shaft I9 has made a complete revolu-- tion, gear element 28 willengage gear 20 to rotate the same an i'ncrement of one tooth. The marksnow obtained will translate to 0010. And so it will be seen that thedevice has a capacity to 9999 when it automatically returns to theinitial zero setting.

As seen in Fig. 5, the marks have a pattern which varies first along theunit now and then, as the number increases, along the tens row, etc. Thenumber set up on the card shown is 7631.

The platen means [3 comprises a platen 40 arranged parallel to andspaced from the marking ends of the projected markings 33, a pivotedlever 47 mounting said platen on the extensions of walls l4, anoperating handle 48 for tilting said lever, an abutment bracket 49, anda spring 50 between said bracket and the end of the handle for elevatingthe latter and normally positioning the platen in a raised positionrelative to the markers. The lever 47 is so arranged that its free end5|, that has rotational engagement with the platen, moves in an are thatis both forward and downward, said movement being limited by theabutment bracket. The platen 46, at its lower end is provided with aledge 52 for a card C.

Between the housing i 0 and the platen 45 there is arranged a guideplate 53 that, together with said platen, forms a card-receiving chuteor housing. Said plate is provided with suitable holes 54 through whichthe marks 39 are adapted to project, and flexible means such as springs55 mount said plate resiliently.

In practice, that face of plate that is directed toward the platen ispreferably polished so that a card will slide freely when in contacttherewith. However, the complementary face of the platen, as indicatedby a liner 56, is formed to frictionally grip the card, Said face maycomprise a sheet of suitable fabric, a coating of rough material or, thesame may be knurled.

When a reading is to be taken to record the accumulated. actuations oflever 25 as reflected by the earns 24 and the projected markers 39, acard C is dropped into the card chute and handle 48 is pressed. Thefirst movement of said handle will bring the platen face '56 intocontact with the card and then press the card against plate 53. Thefinal movement of said handle will result in said card being bothpressed against the projected markers and wiped therealong to cause themarkers to produce the elongated marks shown in Fig. 5. Upon release ofhandle the markers will again wipe against the card as the same movesupwardly to strengthen the marks.

It will be noted that plate 52 obviates the card, as it passes into thechute, being inadvertently marked by the markers, and that the markers,as urged by springs 43, resiliently press against the card. Also, wearon the markers is compensated nearest for by the mentioned projectionthereof by springs 43.

A variation of the above-described cyclometer may embody manual settingof each shaft H to 22 with means to clear the setting to zero.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course,subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to theparticular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire toavail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A recording cyclometer comprising a row of markers, a row of camseach operatively associated with a marker, means for moving said cams toproject said markers successively, and means mounted for movement bothtoward a sheet positioned in front of the markers and relative to theface of said sheet for pressing said sheet against the projected markersand simultaneously sliding the same with respect to the markers to bemarked thereby.

2. A recording cyclometer comprising plural rows of markers, a row ofcams associated with each row of markers, each cam being associated witha marker, means interconnecting the rows of cams to move the samewhereby the cams of each row successively project the markers associatedtherewith, and means mounted for movement both toward a sheet positionedin front of the markers and relative to the face of the sheet forpressing said sheet against the projected markers to be marked thereby.

3. A recording cyclometer comprising plural rows of markers, a row ofcams associated with each row of markers, each cam being associated witha marker, means interconnecting the rows of cams to move the samewhereby the cams of each row successively project the markers associatedtherewith, a sheet-receiving chute having openings through which saidmarkers are adapted to project, and means for pressing the chute and asheet therein in a direction to press said sheet against the projectedmarkers, said means being mounted to engage and slide the sheet relativeto the markers to thereby provide said sheet with elongated marks.

4. A recording cyclometer comprising two shafts, means for rotating oneof said shafts, means operatively connecting the shafts whereby a fullrevolution of the driven shaft effects a partial revolution of the othershaft, a plurality of similar cams on each shaft, said cams each beingdifferently angularly arranged on their respective shafts, a markingunit associated with each cam and adapted tobe projected by the cams ofeach shaft successively and means for slidingly pressing a sheet againstthe projected marking units to receive a separate elongated mark fromeach projected marking unit, each marking unit including a graphitemarker whereby the elongated mark made thereby has electricalconductivity.

5. A recording cyclometer comprising two shafts, means for rotating oneof said shafts, means operatively connecting the shafts whereby a fullrevolution of the driven shaft effects a partial revolution of the othershaft, a plurality of similar cams on each shaft, said cams each beingdifferently angularly arranged on their respective shafts, a markingunit associated with each cam and adapted to be projected by the cams ofeach 6 shaft successively and means for slidingly press/ ing a sheetagainst the projected marking units to receive a separate elongated markfrom each projected marking unit, each marking unit including aresiliently mounted graphite marker, whereby the elongated mark madethereby has electrical conductivity, and whereby the pressure of theresiliently mounted marker on the sheet results in a considerabletransfer of graphite to the sheet to form the mentioned mark.

6. A recording cyclometer comprising two shafts, means for rotating oneof said shafts, means operatively connecting the shafts whereby a fullrevolution of the driven shaft effects a partial revolution of the othershaft, a plurality of similar cams on each shaft, said cams each beingdifferently angularly arranged on their respective shafts, a markingunit associated with each cam and adapted to be projected by the cams ofeach shaft successively, a resiliently mounted plate having openingsinto which the projected mark ing units are adapted to extend, a movableplaten associated with said plate to form a sheet-receiving chute tobring one face of a sheet in front of the projected marking units, andmeans for moving the platen, both toward said marking units and alsodownward with respect thereto to press the sheet with a sliding motionagainst the units to be marked thereby.

7. In a device of the character described, a plurality of shafts eachhaving a polygonal crosssection, one end of each shaft being rotatedthrough 360 with relation to the other end whereby the shaft isuniformly twisted throughout its length, a plurality of similar camshaving holes corresponding to the sectional form of the shaft andmounted on each shaft, means spacing said cams of each shaft whereby thesame are successively and uniformly angularly offset with respect toeach other, means for rotating said shafts, and a marking unitassociated with each cam and adapted to be projected thereby to markingposition.

8. In a device of the character described, a plu-- rality of shafts eachhaving a polygonal cross section, one end of each shaft being rotated;through 360 with relation to the other endv whereby the shaft isuniformly twisted throughout its length, a plurality of similar camshaving holes corresponding to the sectional form of the shaft andmounted on each shaft, means spacing said cams of each shaft whereby thesame are successively and uniformly angularly offset with respect toeach other, means for rotating said shafts, a marking unit associatedwith each cam and adapted to be projected thereby to marking position,and resilient means urging said units against each respective camwhereby said units are retracted under control of the cams.

9. A recording cyclometer comprising a sheetreceiving chute, a series ofmarking elements arranged on one side of the chute, means for projectingsaid elements sequentially in a direction toward one face of a sheetresiding in the chute, and means engageable with the opposite face ofthe sheet to press said sheet against the projected marking elements andsimultaneously slide said sheet relative to said elements to receiveelongated marks therefrom.

10. A recording cyclometer comprising a sheetreceiving chute, a seriesof markin elements arranged on one side of the chute, means forprojecting said elements sequentiallyin a direction toward one face of asheet residing in the chute,

7 8 and means engageable with the opposite face of REFERENCES CITED theSheet to'press said Sheet against the project The following referencesare of record in the ed marking elements and simultaneously slide me oithis patent; said sheet relative to said elements to receive elongatedmarks therefrom, said latter means 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS comprising afiat platen having a friction liner Number Name Date on that facethereof which engages the sheet, and 1,110,643 Peirce Sept. 15, 1914manually movable means connected to the platen 1,260,705 Peirce Marv 26,1918 to move the same in an arcuate path both toward 1,459,087 Cox June19, 1923 said sheet and relative to the face thereof. 30 2,148,500 PottsFeb. 28, 1939 2,149, 17 8 Triner Mar. '7, 1939 JOHN W. CADE. 2,364,412Wittel Dec. 5, 1944

